Righteous Weapons?

“–giving no cause for offense in anything in order that the ministry be not discredited, but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distressed, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, in the Word of Truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness,” from II Corinthians 6:1-10

“Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armour of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10-11

These weapons are seen to be of two types: those weapons supplied by God as a result of justification and weapons of personal integrity with our walk with the Lord once we are His...

“And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” Ephesians 6:17

Know His Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New Prayer Request: Audley’s mother died, he’s travelling home to be with family. Ongoing prayer requests: Australians recovering from natural disasters of fires and floods, emergency and support workers still labouring. Marilu –pregnant in hospital, must lay still, on her side for months to save her unborn. God’s hands on new USA political administration. Barb and Gary to find new, satisfying jobs; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, Michael, David and Adrian. Randy’s family moving to Canada. New work projects for me. Praise: Lyle’s brother (healing well) and girlfriend (who’s stayed with him throughout entire ordeal).

Purpose of Real Power

“...but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distressed, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, in the Word of Truth, in the power of God...” from II Corinthians 6:1-10

“’All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son, except the Father, nor does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.’” Matthew 11:28

“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on the earth.’” Matthew 28:18

Why have we been given His power through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit?

“’...but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.’” Acts 1:8

“’Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’” Matthew 28:19-20

Know His Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New Prayer Request: Audley’s mother died, he’s travelling home to be with family. Ongoing prayer requests: Australians recovering from natural disasters of fires and floods, emergency and support workers still labouring. Marilu –pregnant in hospital, must lay still, on her side for months to save her unborn. God’s hands on new USA political administration. Barb and Gary to find new, satisfying jobs; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, Michael, David and Adrian. Randy’s family moving to Canada. New work projects for me. Praise: Lyle’s brother (healing well) and girlfriend (who’s stayed with him throughout entire ordeal).

Be Free!

“...giving no cause for offense in anything in order that the ministry be not discredited, but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distressed, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, in the Word of Truth,” from II Corinthians 6:1-10

“Pilate therefore said to Him, ‘So You are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the Truth. Everyone who is of the Truth hears My voice.’ Pilate said to Him, ‘What is truth?’ And when he has said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, ‘I find no guilt in Him.’” John 18:37-38

I was just listening to the book of John this morning and am always struck by this passage about Truth.

“Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you abide in My Word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32

Be free!

Know His Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New Prayer Request: Audley’s mother died, he’s travelling home to be with family. Ongoing prayer requests: Australians recovering from natural disasters of fires and floods, emergency and support workers still labouring. Marilu –pregnant in hospital, must lay still, on her side for months to save her unborn. God’s hands on new USA political administration. Barb and Gary to find new, satisfying jobs; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, Michael, David and Adrian. Randy’s family moving to Canada. New work projects for me. Praise: Lyle’s brother (healing well) and girlfriend (who’s stayed with him throughout entire ordeal).

Marketing Love

“...giving no cause for offense in anything in order that the ministry be not discredited, but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distressed, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love,” from II Corinthians 6:1-10

We are so steeped in ubiquitous marketing messages, we sometimes need to take a step back and consider the Truth. Tony Compolo’s book, “Who Switched the Price Tags” is filled with reminders of how easily we are deceived by false hopes and expectations; how we see value in things with little or no value, when the Truth of genuine love escapes our thinking.

“’For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.’” John 3:16

Know His Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New Prayer Request: Audley’s mother died, he’s travelling home to be with family. Ongoing prayer requests: Australians recovering from natural disasters of fires and floods, emergency and support workers still labouring. Marilu –pregnant in hospital, must lay still, on her side for months to save her unborn. God’s hands on new USA political administration. Barb and Gary to find new, satisfying jobs; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, Michael, David and Adrian. Randy’s family moving to Canada. New work projects for me. Praise: Lyle’s brother (healing well) and girlfriend (who’s stayed with him throughout entire ordeal).

Vapourware?

“...giving no cause for offense in anything in order that the ministry be not discredited, but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distressed, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit...” from II Corinthians 6:1-10

‘”Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. – A new commandment I give you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. – And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you.” John 13:19-20, 34-35 & 13:16-17

Vaporware is a term used to describe a software or hardware product that’s announced by a developer well in advance of release, but which then fails to emerge. Reading the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke & John) many saw Jesus as someone who promised many things for the future, including His own death. How could anyone believe in such love? It would take a miracle to love that much. And delivering on all His promises – how silly does that seem! It would take a miracle. Or to save us from our sins or believe He will live in me or come again? It would take the miracle of the Holy Spirit!

Know His Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New Prayer Request: Audley’s mother died and he is travelling home to be with the family. Ongoing prayer requests: Australians recovering from natural disasters of fires and floods, emergency and support workers still labouring. Marilu –pregnant in hospital, must lay still, on her side for months to save her unborn. God’s hands on new USA political administration. Barb and Gary to find new, satisfying jobs; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, Michael, David and Adrian. Randy’s family moving to Canada. New work projects for me. Praise: Lyle’s brother (healing well) and girlfriend (who’s stayed with him throughout entire ordeal).

Amazing But True!

“’For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.’” John 3:16

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (full and perfect payment) for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” I John 4:10-11

I interrupt this series to share that yesterday I received an email from a man who came to receive the WeakDay Devotion (WDD) in a most amazing way. If you don’t tell me you’re changing email addresses or move or no longer want to receive them, I keep sending them. I never know of course. In this case, he took a new job and started cleaning up the previous person’s email box. He found a folder called “devotions”. He was a new Christian and opened the file to find these little messages and wrote to me to tell me. It was thrilling enough for me...hearing how God used these messages in a ways I hadn’t expected. A while later this same person wrote to share that he had met someone and they would be married – it was another person on the WDD list! They had a child and now ten years later, he wrote to thank me again for this ministry and I sat and cried, so humbled, and thanked God He continues to give me His strength and creativity to just write these for Him each day. Thank you Kevin.

“’Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’” Matthew 28:19-20

Know His Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New Prayer Request: Australians recovering from natural disasters of fires and floods, and emergency and support workers still labouring. Ongoing prayer requests: Marilu –pregnant in hospital, must lay still, on her side for months to save her unborn. God’s hands on new USA political administration. Barb and Gary to find new, satisfying jobs; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, Michael, David and Adrian. Randy’s family moving to Canada. New work projects for me. Praise: Lyle’s brother (healing well) and girlfriend (who’s stayed with him throughout entire ordeal).

Kinda

“but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distressed, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness...” from II Corinthians 6:1-10

Kindness = To be friendly, helpful, well-meaning, generous, benevolent or considerate, warm, cordial. The word comes from an Anglo-Saxon word and it refers to your inner nature. And attitude that resonates with who you are and pours out of the overflow of your heart. We know some are not kind by nature; some pretend to be kind to manipulate others (popularised through everyday marketing efforts); yet the Lord demonstrated kindness in all He did. He would have kindness BE part of who we are daily, because -- when sincere -- kindness attracts others to Him.

“’Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My load is light.’” Matthew 11:28-30

Know His Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New Prayer Request: Australians recovering from natural disasters of fires and floods, and emergency and support workers still labouring. Ongoing prayer requests: Marilu –pregnant in hospital, must lay still, on her side for months to save her unborn. God’s hands on new USA political administration. Barb and Gary to find new, satisfying jobs; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, Michael, David and Adrian. Randy’s family moving to Canada. New work projects for me. Praise: Lyle’s brother (healing well) and girlfriend (who’s stayed with him throughout entire ordeal).

Don't Pray for This!

“giving no cause for offense in anything in order that the ministry be not discredited, but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distressed, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity, in knowledge, in patience,” From II Corinthians 6:1-10

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired, His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might, He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” Isaiah 40:28-31

God answers prayer. We know this. Praying for patience is seen to “be dangerous” for many because to learn patience you may have to suffer first. Interesting where it is placed in the series of words above – much “challenge” produces a pure heart that knows patience.

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.” James 4:3

Know His Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New Prayer Request: Australians recovering from natural disasters of fires and floods, and emergency and support workers still labouring. Ongoing prayer requests: Marilu –pregnant in hospital, must lay still, on her side for months to save her unborn. God’s hands on new USA political administration. Barb and Gary to find new, satisfying jobs; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, Michael, David and Adrian. Randy’s family moving to Canada. New work projects for me. Praise: Lyle’s brother (healing well) and girlfriend (who’s stayed with him throughout entire ordeal).

What Do You Know?

“but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distressed, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity, in knowledge,” from II Corinthians 6:1-10

“I said to myself, ‘Behold, I have magnified and increased wisdom more than all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge.’ And I set my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly; I realised that this also is striving after wind. Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain.” Ecclesiastes 1:16-18

“Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you abide in My Word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free.’” John 8:31-32

Knowing more is not as important as knowing what to do with what you do know. God provides so much for us in His Word to help us learn more about who He is and how much He loves us. That is why it is good to spend time in His Word.

Know His Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New Prayer Request: Those who lost everything in the fires and floods; emergency workers and supporters working in Australian natural disasters. Ongoing prayer requests: Marilu –pregnant in hospital, must lay still, on her side for months to save her unborn. God’s hands on new USA political administration. Barb and Gary to find new, satisfying jobs; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, Michael, David and Adrian. Randy’s family moving to Canada. New work projects for me. Praise: Lyle’s brother (healing well) and girlfriend (who’s stayed with him throughout entire ordeal).

Purity

“but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distressed, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity” from II Corinthians 6:1-10

“’Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.’” Matthew 5:8

“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute. If there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.” Philippians 4:8

“But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” I Timothy 1:5

Here begins a shift from the hard, dark things in our lives that challenge us to the challenge of having the light live within us. Purity means with no other substance mixed in, uncontaminated, wholesome, virtuous, chaste and free from sin. As Christians this is where we all begin; admitting we are sinful and that we are not pure in our heart toward God. Oh and we do this regularly.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9

Know His Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New Prayer Request: Those who lost everything in the fires and floods; emergency workers and supporters working in Australian natural disasters. Ongoing prayer requests: Marilu –pregnant in hospital, must lay still, on her side for months to save her unborn. God’s hands on new USA political administration. Barb and Gary to find new, satisfying jobs; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, Michael, David and Adrian. Randy’s family moving to Canada. New work projects for me. Praise: Lyle’s brother (healing well) and girlfriend (who’s stayed with him throughout entire ordeal).

Hungry?

“but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distressed, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in sleeplessness, in hunger” from II Corinthians 6:1-10

“’Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread out of Heaven to eat.’ Jesus therefore said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of Heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of Heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down out of Heaven, and gives life to the world.’ They said therefore to Him, ‘Lord, evermore give us this bread.’ Jesus said the them, ‘I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.’” John 6:31-35

In our world today only 30% of the population has access to clean, safe drinking water, 30% of the world lives on the equivalent of $1 USD per day. We turn on the faucet and there’s water, we open the fridge or go to the grocery and there’s food. Few of us will ever know physical hunger or thirst. Yet, there’s no greater hunger in man than to be in a relationship with God. It’s indelibly and mysteriously stamped in each heart. Only One can ever fill this hunger and if we have a personal relationship with Christ, we know the way to help others find this food and drink.

Know His Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New Prayer Request: Those who lost everything in the fires and floods; emergency workers and supporters working in Australian natural disasters. Ongoing prayer requests: Marilu –pregnant in hospital, must lay still, on her side for months to save her unborn. God’s hands on new USA political administration. Barb and Gary to find new, satisfying jobs; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, Michael, David and Adrian. Randy’s family moving to Canada. New work projects for me. Praise: Lyle’s brother (healing well) and girlfriend (who’s stayed with him throughout entire ordeal).

How Much Sleep?

“but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distressed, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in sleeplessness,” from II Corinthians 6:1-10

“The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens. By His knowledge the depths were broken up, and the skies drip with dew. My son, let them not depart from your sight; keep sound wisdom and discretion, so they will be life to your soul, and adornment to your neck. Then you will walk in your way securely, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.” Proverbs 3:19-24

“But you, brethren are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief, for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness, so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night,” I Thessalonians 5:6-7

How dangerous could losing a bit of sleep be? God made sleep to restore our mind and body. Research has determined not only do you need a personal minimum number of hours of sleep – usually eight hours – your body cannot go without sleep for longer than eight days without major physical and psychological damage occurring – but also that too much sleep is also not good for you. You can make up lost sleep, but you cannot store up sleep for a future time.

Know His Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New Prayer Request: Those who lost everything in the fires and floods; emergency workers and supporters working in Australian natural disasters. Marilu –pregnant in hospital, must lay still, on her side for months to save her unborn. Ongoing prayer requests: God’s hands on new USA political administration. Barb and Gary to find new, satisfying jobs; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, Michael, David and Adrian. Randy’s family moving to Canada. New work projects for me. Praise: Lyle’s brother (healing well) and girlfriend (who’s stayed with him throughout entire ordeal).

Labours in Australia

“but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distressed, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours,” II Corinthians 6:1-10

Labour is not just working, it is strenuous and prolonged physical work that is done for pay or the amount of effort someone puts into something. I have to stop right now and pray for those working in the bush fires and in the floods in Australia right now...who can imagine how hard these labours are! May God be with all those devastated by all this destruction and those who labour to help and support them.

“We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you;” I Thessalonians 1:2-4

Know His Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New Prayer Request: Emergency workers and supporters working in Australian natural disasters. Marilu –pregnant in hospital, must lay still, on her side for months to save her unborn. Ongoing prayer requests: God’s hands on new USA political administration. Barb and Gary to find new, satisfying jobs; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Adrian, Randy and Michael. New work projects for me. Praise: Lyle’s brother (healing well) and girlfriend (who’s stayed with him throughout entire ordeal).

Tumults

“but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distressed, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults,” II Corinthians 6:1-10

“But they cried out all together, saying, ‘Away with this man, and release for us Barabbas!’ -- And Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, but they kept on calling out, saying, ‘Crucify, crucify Him!’ And he said to them a third time, ‘Why, what evil has this Man done? I have found in Him no guilt demanding death; I will therefore punish Him and release Him.’ But they were insistent, and with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail.” Luke 23:18-23

Tumult is a wonderful word. We don’t usually use it nowadays. It means a great and confused noise as from a crowd or a violent or angry disturbance or commotion that is disorderly, unruly or agitated. A great crowd surrounded our Saviour, on many occasions whipped up by others...a disorderly and angry mob. Sometimes we have tumultuous times just in our heads. What did Jesus do?

“But Jesus was saying, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’” – Luke 23:34

Know His Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New Prayer Request: Marilu –pregnant in hospital, must lay still, on her side for months to save her unborn. Ongoing prayer requests: God’s hands on new USA political administration. Barb and Gary to find new, satisfying jobs; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Adrian, Randy and Michael. New work projects for me. Praise: Lyle’s brother (healing well) and girlfriend (who’s stayed with him throughout entire ordeal).

Prisons

“..but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distressed, in beatings, in imprisonments,” from II Corinthians 6:1-10

One of my dearest friends, Chris, got involved in Prison Fellowship and he asked me to help him prepare Christmas boxes for the prisoners he was responsible to support. It was eye opening for me to imagine the strictness of what was allowed for gifts. Prisons don’t always have iron bars and steel toilets in the floor, some are of our own making. If you have ever seen the film The Hiding Place, you would see how knowing Christ as personal saviour makes all the difference in whatever prison you ever find yourself in.

“Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you abide in My Word, then you are truly disciples of Mine, and you shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free.’” John 8:31-32

“For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sim might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.” Romans 6:5-7

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1

Know His Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New Prayer Request: Marilu –pregnant in hospital, must lay still, on her side for months to save her unborn. Ongoing prayer requests: God’s hands on new USA political administration. Barb and Gary to find new, satisfying jobs; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Adrian, Randy and Michael. New work projects for me. Praise: Lyle’s brother (healing well) and girlfriend (who’s stayed with him throughout entire ordeal).

Beatings ?

“ but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distressed, in beatings,” from II Corinthians 6:1-10

The word “beat” has an entire column of meanings in my dictionary, which I found interesting! As I began to read them, some of them began to make sense in light of the verse above. Beat = to hit a person violently and repeatedly, especially to harm or punish them, to defeat, someone, to be too difficult to be solved or understood by someone, to make or shape by repeatedly striking the raw material.

“And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not knw how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we KNOW that God causes ALL things to work TOGETHER for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:26-28

Know His Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New Prayer Request: Marilu –pregnant in hospital, must lay still, on her side for months to save her unborn. Ongoing prayer requests: God’s hands on new USA political administration. Barb and Gary to find new, satisfying jobs; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Adrian, Randy and Michael. New work projects for me. Praise: Lyle’s brother (healing well) and girlfriend (who’s stayed with him throughout entire ordeal).

Distress

“but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distressed,” II Corinthians 6:3

“The next day as we were being violently storm-tossed, they [the sailors] began to jettison the cargo and on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. And since neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was assailing us, from then on all hope of our being saved was gradually abandoned.” Acts 27:18-20

The word “distressed” is used for ships, meaning in great peril or danger and indicates over time. The ship Paul was in had a limit of what it could take before it could take no more. The soldiers, sailors and passengers could do no more than hold on during the terrible storm they had foolishly sailed into, against the advice of a man of God. I remember working with Larry Burkett as he began his ministry and how he warned of the “coming economic earthquake” (that he finally wrote a book about). Like many prophets before him, few listened...but some did.

Know His Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New Prayer Request: Marilu –pregnant in hospital, must lay still, on her side for months to save her unborn. Ongoing prayer requests: God’s hands on new USA political administration. Barb and Gary to find new, satisfying jobs; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Adrian, Randy and Michael. New work projects for me. Praise: Lyle’s brother (healing well) and girlfriend (who’s stayed with him throughout entire ordeal).

Tackle Too!

“...but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships...” II Corinthians 6:3

“The next day as we were being violently storm-tossed, they [the sailors] began to jettison the cargo and on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. And since neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was assailing us, from then on all hope of our being saved was gradually abandoned.” Acts 27:18-20

The system of ropes and riggings and pulleys of a sailing boat that were used to lift heavy objects and to sail the boat itself. When they threw away the tackle, it was a sure sign these sailors had abandoned all hope. The hardship had buffeted their ship and them for nearly two weeks! Throwing away the cargo was one thing but having no tackle meant no hope. It was busy work; a bit like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic or the orchestra that is reported to have played on as the ship sank. Futility has a way of getting us to look up. And yet...

“ And when they had gone a long time without food, then Paul stood up in their midst and said, ‘Men you ought to have followed my advice and not to have set sail from Crete, and incurred this damage and loss. And yet now I urge you to keep up your courage, for there shall be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For this very night and angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul;

Know His Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New Prayer Request: Marilu –pregnant in hospital, to lay still and on her side for months to save her unborn. Ongoing prayer requests: God’s hands on the new USA political administration. Barb and Gary to find new, satisfying jobs; wisdom for doctors caring for and endurance for Doris, David, Adrian, Randy and Michael, as they manage their health in new ways. New work projects for me (I removed this as I am reluctant to ask for too much for me, for those of you who asked.) Praise: Lyle’s brother (healing well) and girlfriend (who’s stayed with him throughout entire ordeal).

Emulation

“–giving no cause for offense in anything in order that the ministry be not discredited, but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance,” II Corinthians 6:3

I wrote a course to teach people the method of evangelism Jesus used so they could emulate the Master of all techniques. He gave no offense in anything in order that others could come to Him and be free for eternity. Good methods in His teachings.

“’Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.’” Matthew 11:20-30

Know His Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New Prayer Request: Marilu –pregnant in hospital, will have to lay still and on her side for months to save her unborn. Ongoing prayer requests: God’s hands on the new USA political administration. Barb and Gary to find new, satisfying jobs; wisdom for doctors caring for and endurance for Doris, David, Adrian, Randy and Michael, as they manage their health in new ways. Praise: Lyle’s brother (healing well) and girlfriend (who’s stayed with him throughout entire ordeal).